Loading...
HomeMy WebLinkAbout04-1992MINUTES OF TOWN BOARD MEETING MONDAY, APRIL 13, 1992 AT 7:30 P.M. Those Present: Teresa M. Robinson, Supervisor Ellard L. Sovocool, Councilman Donald E. Cummings, Councilman Carl E. Haynes, Councilman Jack Fitzgerald, Attorney Absent: Gordon C. VanBenschoten, Councilman Also Present: George Senter, Liz Brennan, Betty Sperger, Gary Wood Moved by Mr. Sovocool, seconded by Mr. Cummings, that the minutes of March 9th be appoved as mailed. Ayes - Sovocool, Cummings, Haynes, Robinson Claim Nos. 67 to 90 of the Highway Fund in the amount of $11,230.49 and Claim Nos. 81 to 121 of the General Fund in the amount of $50,369.12 were presented for audit. Moved by Mr. Haynes, seconded by Mr. Cummings, that the bills be approved for payment. Ayes - Sovocool, Cummings, Haynes, Robinson. Claim No. 6 of the Community Development Fund in the amount of$1,500.00 for internal audit by Ciaschi, Dietershagen, Little & Mickelson was presented for audit. Moved by Mr. Sovocool, seconded by Mr. Haynes, that the bill be approved for payment. Ayes - Sovocool, Cummings, Haynes, Robinson. Liz Brennan, Bookeeper, requested board approval to transfer and encumber monies in General Fund. RESOLUTION NO. 23 - TRANSFERS IN GENERAL FUND (PART -TOWN) Moved by Mr. Haynes, seconded by Mr. Cummings Ayes - Sovocool, Cummings, Haynes, Robinson RESOLVED, that the Town Board does hereby authorize the following transfer of funds: General Fund (B) Part -Town From - Planning B8020.4 - $4,547.25 To - Refuse & Garbage B8160.4 - $4,547.25 RESOLUTION NO. 24 - ENCUMBRANCE OF GENERAL FUNDS (PART -TOWN) Moved by Mr. Haynes, seconded by Mr. Sovocool Ayes - Sovocool, Cummings, Haynes, Robinson RESOLVED, that the Town Board authorize the Planning Board to encumber $3000.00 to develope a master plan (B8020.4). Monthly reports from the Town Clerk, Tax Collector, Bookkeeper, Town Justices Heffron and Alexander were submitted for review. 1 GARY WOOD, P.E. - Reviewed his application for a Construction & Demolition Waste Disposal & Mined Land Closure of Roger Gleason Property on Clark Street Extension. This was prepared for J. S. Pace Corporation to establish a permit from both the NYS Department of Environmental Conservation and the Town of Groton to allow the use of a small, depleted gravel mine for deposition of Construction & Demolition Wastes (C &D) from the elderly housing project on Main Street. DEC notified Gary that he had filed an incomplete application. Gary is waiting for written notification from DEC in order to be able to comply with their request for corrected or additional information. Mr. Wood presented plans of the Temporary C & D Landfill and Mined Land Reclamation Plan for the Boards review. The developer's completion date is August. The developer also has a problem in getting rid of the debris. The Town has also received correspondence from DEC regarding Lead Agency Status for the Gleason C &D Disposal Site. This project appears to be an Unlisted Action under Article 8 of the Environmental Conservation Law, the State Environmental Quality Review Act. SEQR offers the option of coordinated environmental review and lead agency decision for Unlisted Actions among all involved agencies (any agency which funds, permits, approves or directly undertakes an action) . The Department recommends coordinated review. From the EAF it appears DEC and the Town are the only involved agencies but the application lists funding from Federal Department of Housing and Urban Development, Farmers Home Administration and Village of Groton. One of them may also be lead agency. The Department recommends the Town of Groton be Lead Agency. Therefore, DEC enclosed a long environmental assessment form and a copy of the permit application for our review. The Town must contact DEC no later than 30 days from receipt of letter of our decision to be the SEQR lead agency on this project. The Village has hired a qualified asbestos firm to remove all asbestos. Certification of this should put all rumors to rest. The Town could hire someone to monitor all materials that are taken to the site. OSHA or DEC is qualified to do this. The Town does not want to be liable for objectionable materials going up there. It was suggested to let DEC act as lead agency in order to expedite project. Consensus of Board is to take a couple days to look over before making any decision. Supervisor Robinson will call a Special Meeting next week when more information is available. MARTY LUSTER, STATE ASSEMBLEMAN - Gave a quick report on the budget. Good news was that the budget was passed almost on time. Also reported that they are proposing to reform the budget process. The General Fund shows a 30 increase over the past year even though several cuts have been made. GEORGE SENTER - CODE ENFORCEMENT OFFICER - Year to date building permits issued are 14. In 1991 we had 17 at this time. Seventy -seven zoning violation letters were sent out. Nine have been resolved to date. Ten others have made contact. Larry Parker has expressed his concern about possible pollution of C & D materials that are intended to be placed in Gleason's Mine. Discussed trash collection. There were 170 loads of trash hauled to the County landfill. Total cost has not yet been figured up by the Highway 2 Superintendent. Supervisor read letter from Les Graves extending his appreciation to the Town and Village for having the Trash Days. Moved by Mr. Haynes, seconded by Mr. Sovocool, to authorize the Town Clerk to attend the NYS Town Clerk's Association Annual Meeting in Albany from April 26 to 29. Ayes - Sovocool, Cummings, Haynes, Robinson. Board discussed Emergency Service Tax Exemption for Farms. This would allow farmland to be taxed for emergency service (fire and ambulance) based on Agriculture Use Values. Monika Roth Crispin, Cooperative Extension Agent, has offered to give a presentation at a Town Meeting to explain the law in more detail. It was decided to look into what the savings to agricultural landowners would be and how to assess the tax shift. Will be discussed at next Board meeting. Items 8 through 10 on the agenda will be discussed at next months meeting. They include implementing Civil Rights Policy, Procurement Policies and Procedures and adopting a Drug -Free Workplace Plan. RESOLUTION NO. 25 - DESIGNATE POLLING PLACES FOR 1992 Moved by Mr. Cummings, seconded by Mr. Haynes Ayes - Sovocool, Cummings, Haynes, Robinson RESOLVED, that the 1992 Polling Places be designated as follows: District #1 - West Groton Church District #2 & #3 - Groton Town Hall District #4 - McLean Fire Station RESOLUTION NO. 26 - COMBINE ALL ELECTION DISTRICTS FOR REGISTRATION DAYS Moved by Mr. Sovocool, seconded by Mr. Cummings Ayes - Sovocool, Cummings, Haynes, Robinson RESOLVED, that Election Districts #1, #2, #3 and #4 be combined for Registration Day at the Groton Town Hall. RESOLUTION NO. 27 - ESTABLISH $15.00 RETURNED CHECK FEE Moved by Mr. Haynes, seconded by Mr. Cummings Ayes - Sovocool, Cummings, Haynes, Robinson RESOLVED, that the Town Board does hereby establish a $15.00 fee for all returned checks. New insurance policies for the Town were reviewed. All appeared to look okay. 3 Permits for Groton Town Gravel Mines were received. Town Clerk reported that the following payments were made to the Supervisor from the County during 1991: Mortgage Tax - $33,065.31; Surplus Dog Monies - $1,146.45; Snow Removal and Mowing - $75,441.75. Total amount received = $109,653.51. Resignations were received from Julie Mackey, Cleaner, effective on March 28, 1991, and Mary Parker, Election Inspector, effective immediately. Mrs. Parker is 90 years old and has served 27 years as Election Inspector for the Town of Groton. Discussed cleaning position and what is expected. Two hours per day is not ample time to get the job done properly. We need to hire another employee and allow more hours or hire an outside cleaning service to do all the work. It was felt that if an employee was hired, we would have more control over what is to be done. A reasonable hourly rate would be in the vicinity of $7.00. We can advertize for a cleaner and also contact cleaning services for a quote. RESOLUTION NO. 28 - IN APPRECIATION OF MARY PARKER Moved by Mr. Haynes, seconded by Mr. Cummings Ayes - Sovocool, Cummings, Haynes, Robinson WHEREAS, Mary Parker has served the Town of Groton since June 7, 1965, as an Election Inspector, and WHEREAS, Mrs. Parker was appointed as an Election Inspector on June 7, 1965, and WHEREAS, Mrs. Parker has performed her responsibilities in a most competent and committed manner, and WHEREAS, Mrs. Parker for these 27 years has been a dedicated and loyal employee for the Town of Groton, be it therefore RESOLVED, that the Town Board expresses their thanks and appreciation to Mrs. Parker for her contribution to the Town of Groton, and BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that the Town Board wishes Mrs. Parker much happiness during her retirement. Supervisor Robinson received correspondence from Attornies regarding Hedlund case. It is in regard to setting up examination before trials in May. They are looking for someone to testify for the Town. There being no further business, Mr. Sovocool moved to adjourn meeting, seconded by Mr. Cummings, at 9:55PM. Unanimous. Colleen D. Pierson Town Clerk 4